Vegetables and fruits are one of the main food groups, so it’s important to eat a lot of them. And let’s face it: they’re quite healthy – they’re full of vitamins, minerals and fiber. They can prevent you from all kinds of horrible illnesses, so it’s great to know which ones one doesn’t need to refrigerate.
Fruits and vegetables are part of a healthy diet, but they can quickly spoil if left out at room temperature. Some foods can be stored at room temperature while others need to be kept in the refrigerator.
The following fruits and vegetables do not need to be refrigerated:
Apples
Apricots
Bananas
Melons (cantaloupe, honeydew)
Cherries
Grapes
Lemons and limes (unwaxed)
Mangoes (green & yellow)Nectarines,Peaches,Pears,Plums,Strawberries,Watermelon
Strawberries, green onions, radishes and asparagus do not need to be refrigerated. They can be stored in the produce drawer of your refrigerator.
Fruits that don’t need to be refrigerated include avocados, bananas, kiwis and papayas. These fruits ripen faster when they’re at room temperature, so they should be kept away from other fruits and vegetables that need to stay cold.
You can store carrots, celery and cauliflower at room temperature because they’re root vegetables that store well underground. However, you should keep broccoli in the refrigerator for longer storage.
Some vegetables and fruits do not need to be refrigerated — or even stored colder than room temperature. In fact, some of them taste better when left out.
Foods that don’t need to be refrigerated include:
Apples. Apples can be stored in a cool, dry place for several weeks without spoiling.
Asparagus. Asparagus can be kept in the refrigerator for up to five days after it’s been cut down and washed. If you have an abundance of asparagus and don’t want to keep it all around at once, wrap it in damp paper towels before putting it in the fridge.
Bananas. Bananas are best stored on the countertop at room temperature until they’re ripe, then moved into the fridge so they don’t overripen too quickly once cut open. Ripe bananas will keep for up to three days if kept on the countertop, but if you want them to last longer (and not turn black), stick them in the fridge for a few days just before cutting them open and using them.
Beets. Beets do not need much cold storage at all — you can store them at room temperature for about five days before they start to spoil (which isn’t very long). If
with the exception of potatoes and onions, most vegetables do not need to be refrigerated. However, some will last longer if they are kept in a cool place.
Some vegetables can be stored at room temperature for up to three days, while others should be refrigerated immediately after purchase.
Here is a list of which vegetables do not need to be refrigerated:
Asparagus
Beets
Broccoli (in small bunches)
Brussels sprouts (in small bunches)
Cabbage (in small bunches)
Carrots (in small bunches)
Cauliflower (in small bunches)
Corn on the cob (remove husk before storing)
Green beans (in small bunches)
Vegetables and Fruits that Don’t Need to Be Refrigerated
1. Onions
2. Garlic
3. Potatoes
4. Lemons, Limes, Oranges, and Other Citrus Fruits
5. Bananas
6. Apples
7. Avocados
8. Strawberries and Raspberries (but only for a few days)
You can store most vegetables and fruits at room temperature, though there are some exceptions.
The following fruits and vegetables do not have to be refrigerated:
Avocados
Berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
Cherries
Grapefruits
Mangoes
Melons (honeydew, cantaloupe)
Papayas (but not papaya leaves or stems)
Pears (but not pears that are bruised or have brown hard spots on them)Peaches (but not peaches that are bruised or have brown hard spots on them)Tomatoes
There are a few things you should know about keeping fresh produce fresh.
Vegetables need to be kept away from ethylene-producing fruits (such as apples and pears) because this gas can cause them to ripen too fast.
Some vegetables, such as cucumbers, can lose their crispness if refrigerated.
Fruits that don’t need to be refrigerated include:
Apples — Store in a cool, dry place; do not leave them in the refrigerator unless they have been cut up and stored in a sealed container with a damp cloth or paper towel inside to prevent dehydration.
Avocados — Can be stored at room temperature until ripe (they will turn black when ripe). Once ripe, they should be refrigerated but only left out at room temperature for a couple of hours before serving. To ripen them faster, place them in a brown paper bag and store them at room temperature until they soften up; this can take several days depending on how mature they are when purchased (they will feel slightly soft when squeezed gently). If you want to speed things up even more, place an apple or banana in with them (the ethylene gas released by these fruits will help them
There are many vegetables and fruits that do not need to be refrigerated, including some that can actually be stored at room temperature.
The following is a list of vegetables and fruits that do not need to be refrigerated:
Asparagus
Cabbage
Carrots
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Garlic
Green Beans
Mushrooms (white button)
Onions (yellow, red, white)
Peppers (bell peppers)
Summer Squash (zucchini, yellow squash)
Foods that do not need to be refrigerated can be stored at room temperature. Some vegetables and fruits can even be left out on the counter for up to two weeks without spoiling.
The following is a list of vegetables that do not require refrigeration:
Asparagus
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots (cut or whole)
Cauliflower (cut or whole)
Corn (on the cob)
Eggplant
Garlic (in bulb form)**Don’t store garlic in oil.**Ginger root (in bulb form)**Don’t store ginger root in oil.**Green beans**Don’t wash until ready to use, then rinse under cold water briefly before using.**Leafy greens like lettuce and spinach**Don’t wash until ready to use, then rinse under cold water briefly before using.**Peppers – green, red, yellow, orange
Vegetables and fruits that don’t need to be refrigerated
Vegetables that do not need to be refrigerated include:
Asparagus
Avocado
Beetroot (beets)
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chillies (red, green or yellow)
Corn on the cob (without husks)
Courgettes (zucchini) – choose small ones as they tend to keep longer than large ones. Also, note that courgettes are known as zucchini in the USA.